The Edo State Police Command on Sunday confirmed the arrest of two persons over the death of a three-year-old boy, identified only as Prosper, in a hospital in Benin, the state capital.
The suspects, Andy Okoli, who was the victim’s uncle, and a nurse, were said to be in custody over the incident, which occurred a week ago.
The boy was said to have accompanied his uncle to the private hospital on Wisdom Street, off 2nd East Circular Road, said to be owned by a former managing director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, where he suddenly disappeared.
His corpse was discovered the following morning in one of the wards in the hospital.
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The victim’s mother, Mary Okoli, who called for justice, said she hurried down to Benin from her base in Lagos State after she was called over the matter.
She noted that the death of her son was a mystery, which must be unravelled.
A worker at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “A security worker about 11 days ago started coming to work with a minor, who he said was his sister’s son. On the fateful day, the little boy went missing and was later found dead in one of the hospital’s wards and we immediately alerted the police.”
The state police spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the police suspected foul play, adding that the security man and the nurse on duty when the incident happened were being investigated by the homicide section of the state command.
“The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Esigie Police Division Headquarters, Benin, and his police operatives moved to the scene and discovered that the hospital premises were well secured, so he suspected foul play. The security man and the nurse on duty were arresteßd and brought to Esigie Police Station for questioning.
“The case file and suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, while the corpse of the child was deposited in a morgue. Discreet investigation is currently taking place in the homicide section of the SCID.”